More often than you would believe, Alaska cruisers come back home not entirely satisfied with their experience.
They had been hoping to see the last North American frontier, and feel that instead they were dropped off a shopping mall near a glacier with 10,000 of their closest friends.
It is true that if you do a mass-market cruise to Alaska, round trip out of Seattle or Vancouver, then you will some nice scenery, but you won’t really get a life-changing perspective of this magnificent destination.
So if I weren’t pressured for time, and wanted a more unique and authentic Alaskan experience, here’s what I would do:
- I would fly from my gateway city to Fairbanks, Alaska. It is has a sizeable airport (for Alaska), and it is a good place to start a land adventure. You could also finish in Fairbanks, but I always like to get my more challenging travel days in first. Regardless of where you are coming from in the United States, Fairbanks is a long way. It is a four-hour flight from Seattle, effectively making it further from that city than many cities in Mexico.
- Take a seven-day land trip from Fairbanks southbound through Alaska. Denali National Park is a must-see, but other than that there are plenty of options for people who want to see wildlife and scenery, and other options for those that want to go fishing, kayaking, or hiking. The wilderness lodges in Alaska ensure that no matter how rustic your surroundings are, you’ll be well taken care of.
- Board a ship near Anchorage for a one way, south-bound cruise to Seattle or Vancouver. Alaska is one of the largest cruise destinations in the world so there is no shortage of ships. Rather, the challenge in Alaska is the shortage of ports. Most of the mass-market ships call on Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. So if you’re trying to avoid the shopping-mall experience mentioned above, you need to select a smaller ship that visits other ports of call. The luxury lines tend go to places like Sitka and Icy Strait Point, where the big ships can’t get in to.
- Spend a few days in Seattle or Vancouver (or both). These twin cities, although in different countries, are very similar in their presentation and their vibe. Both are beautiful and laid-back, and well worth a few days.
- Take the Rocky Mountaineer Train across the continental divide to Calgary. The Rocky Mountaineer is quickly establishing itself as one of the planet’s must-do train trips. The scenery and service is on par with the Orient Express, and it is must closer to home.
- Fly home from Calgary. Calgary has an International Airport with direct flights to many major American gateways.
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Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
